Tyler Perry Explains Why The Six Triple Eight’s Salute Isn’t Historical
Tyler Perry, the director of the movie The Six Triple Eight, has clarified that the iconic salute at the end of the film did not actually happen in real life. The movie tells the story of the 6888th Battalion, the only all-Black and all-female unit to serve overseas during World War II. The women sorted through millions of pieces of mail that had been backlogged for years, ensuring the mail finally reached its intended recipients.
Perry explained to Today that the women were not saluted when they returned from the war, and their recognition did not come until many years later. He took creative liberties to depict the entire battalion being saluted as they walk into a new life and new future.
In a separate interview with Entertainment Weekly, Perry revealed that the 6888th Battalion’s members did not talk about their heroism because of the rumors spread about them. The women were shamed into silence, and many of their own children did not even know they served. This added shame to the lack of recognition they received upon their return.
The Six Triple Eight’s true story is a testament to the women’s bravery and sacrifice. Perry’s decision to include the salute, despite its historical inaccuracy, adds symbolic importance to the movie’s ending. The scene represents the celebration and recognition that the women deserved, but did not receive until much later.
Perry’s comments highlight the movie’s larger importance in giving recognition to the women of the 6888th Battalion. Their work reopening communication lines and boosting morale during the war’s final year is a testament to their heroism. The movie’s salute may not have been historical, but it serves as a powerful symbol of the recognition these women so rightly deserve.
